JPH0973461A - Sentence information reproducing device using voice - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform vocal reproduction by reading the introduction part of sentence information in retrieval units aloud by using a recording medium on which sentence information on a book and a retrieval table indicating the relation between index information based upon the table of contents of the book as the retrieval units and reproduction start positions by the retrieval unit are recorded. SOLUTION: A reproduction part 16 reproduces the recording medium 12 on which the retrieval table 14 indicating the relation between the index information based upon the table of contents of the book as the retrieval unit and the reproduction start positions by the retrieval units is recorded together with the sentence information on the book. An input part 18 input a reading instruction for reading out the introduction part of sentence information of a target retrieval unit. A storage part 20 stores the retrieval table 14. A voice reproduction part 22 vocalized the inputted sentence information. A control part 28 stores the retrieval table 14 in the storage part 20 from the recording medium 12 by controlling the reproduction part 16, retrieves the target retrieval unit when the reading instruction is inputted by referring to the retrieval table 14 in the storage part 20, and reads the reproduction start position to read the sentence information on the introduction part an the reproduction start position out of the recording medium 12, so that information is vocalized through a voice reproduction part 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio text information reproducing apparatus using a randomly accessible recording medium represented by a CD-ROM.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional audio sentence information reproducing apparatus is
It is a so-called talking book, and is a device used by people with special needs to enjoy reading. The mainstream of this device is a cassette tape that can only be accessed sequentially. Therefore, when selecting the text information of the book recorded on the tape and listening to it,
At normal tape playback speed, it is not audible to the human ear, and there is a method to search for a tone signal that falls within the human audible frequency range only when the tape playback speed becomes faster, such as when fast forward or rewind queuing. It was common.

[0003]

However, the above-described conventional audio sentence information reproducing apparatus has the following problems. As described above, since the tone signal can be obtained only by continuously performing queuing, it is difficult to directly select desired text information. Also, for example, in the case of a book, the tone signal may be inserted only for each large search unit such as a chapter, and in such a case, depending on the number of signal sounds for each page break and the number of intermittent signal sounds, It was necessary to determine the desired sentence information by judging the sentence structure located in the lower layer of the chapter such as a section or paragraph, and it required skill to master it. In particular, with the widespread use of various electrical devices in the home today, the need to read these instruction manuals and specialized books in each field increases, and unlike ordinary literature, such books do not have indexes. In some cases, it may be necessary to read the necessary parts in a scattered manner while referring to them, so there is a strong demand for a device that can directly select the next part to be read. Further, since which part of the book is currently being read can be determined only by the number of windings of the tape and the track number, there is a problem that the reading position is not accurately specified. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the text information of a book, the relationship between the table of contents information in which the heading of the contents of the book is a search unit and the reproduction start position of each search unit Using a recording medium such as a CD-ROM that can be randomly accessed in which a search table indicating the above is recorded, an introductory part of the sentence information of the retrieval unit is sequentially read, and an audio sentence information reproducing device capable of reproducing by voice is provided. To provide.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, a search table showing the relationship between the table-of-contents information in which the headline of the content of the book is a search unit and the playback start position for each search unit is a playback unit that performs the playback operation of the recording medium recorded with the text information of the book. And an input unit capable of inputting a read instruction for reading the target portion of the sentence information of the search unit, a storage unit for storing the search table, and a voice reproduction of the input sentence information. The audio reproduction unit and the search table recorded in the recording medium by controlling the reproduction unit to be stored in the storage unit, and when the read instruction is input through the input unit, the sentence In order to read the information introduction part, the target search unit is searched by referring to the search table in the storage part, the reproduction start position of the search unit is read, and the read reproduction start position is read. A control unit for controlling the reproduction unit to read out the text information recorded on the recording medium from the position for the length of the introduction unit, and reproducing the read text information by voice through the audio reproduction unit. It is characterized by By adopting this configuration, the sentence information in the introduction unit of the search unit can be reproduced by voice, so that the target search unit can be easily specified.

Further, the table of contents information is recorded in the search table by being divided into layers of the table of contents such as chapters, sections, and items.
The input unit can input a hierarchy instruction for designating one of the hierarchies as a hierarchy for search, and the control unit receives the read instruction and the hierarchy instruction via the input unit. In such a case, the target search unit may be searched in the hierarchy specified by the hierarchy instruction in the search table stored in the storage unit, and the reproduction start position of the search unit may be read. For example, you can select a chapter, section, or section as you like,
The target search unit can be read quickly and easily.

Further, the length of the introduction section is recorded in the search table for each search unit, and the control section is
When the target search unit is searched by referring to the search table, the reproduction start position of the search unit and the length of the introduction unit are read, and the introduction unit read from the read reproduction start position is read. If the structure is such that the text information recorded on the recording medium by the length is read out by controlling the reproduction unit, the length of the text information introduction unit to be read can be changed for each search unit. The text information introduction part can be reproduced by the length of good separation, and the target search unit can be surely specified.

Further, the input unit can input a search direction of the search unit, and the control unit, when the read instruction is input via the input unit, the search unit in the storage unit. The target search unit is searched by referring to a table, and the search start units of the searched search units are read while searching the search units sequentially from the search unit along the search direction, and the read reproduction is performed. The text information recorded on the recording medium for the length of the introduction portion from the start position is read by controlling the reproduction unit, and the read text information is reproduced by voice through the audio reproduction unit. For example, only the introductory portion of the text information of the search unit can be read continuously along the search direction, so that the target search unit can be specified quickly and reliably with a few key operations.

Further, the input unit can input a mark setting instruction for setting a read mark, a browse operation instruction based on the read mark, and a browse direction, and the control unit is operable via the reproducing unit. While performing the introduction reading of the sentence information of the search unit,
When the mark setting instruction is input, the reproduction start position of the search unit currently being read is stored in the browsing table in the storage unit as the read mark, and the browsing operation instruction and the browsing direction are input. In this case, if the reproduction start position as the read mark is sequentially read in the browsing direction by referring to the browsing table, only the introduction portion of the text information of the marked search unit can be browsed again.

[0009]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the basic configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the audio text information reproducing apparatus 10 using a CD-ROM as a randomly accessible recording medium will be described as an example. However, if the recording medium is a randomly accessible recording medium, a floppy disk or a ,
It may be an IC card composed of a semiconductor memory element such as RAM. Reference numeral 12 denotes a CD-ROM, which is the text information of the book (specifically, a sound file), the table-of-contents information in which the heading of the contents of the book is a search unit as shown in FIG. 3, and the reproduction start position of the sound file for each heading. (Start sector position in this example)
And a search table 14 showing the relationship with
In this example, as one example, a plurality of audio files are recorded in one CD-ROM, and in the search table 14, each book (book1, boo2, ...) Is categorized in a hierarchical structure. , The starting sector position for each section and item is recorded in order. In the table of contents of this example, since the item is the minimum unit, the start sector position is the item. In addition, the structure of the search unit of chapters, sections, and items classified in a hierarchical structure is recorded as the table of contents information. If the table of contents information is “Chapter” is 1, “Section” is 2, and “Item” is 2, then in the hierarchical structure of the book, Chapter 1 Chapter 2
The second term of the clause is shown.

Here, the audio file is information about the description content of the book itself, and in this example, as an example, a voice in which the description content is read aloud is recorded as audio data for each book. It is also possible to encode and record a voice waveform when the written contents are read aloud, and to give a voice synthesis function to a voice reproducing unit described later to reproduce voice. The search unit is, as shown in the search table 14, a unit of one chapter such as chapter 1, chapter 2, ... In the hierarchy of “chapter”, and a unit of search in the layer of “section”. The unit of one clause such as 1st clause, 2nd clause, ... becomes the search unit, and in the hierarchy of “terms”, 1st clause, 2nd clause, ...
The unit of one term such as is the search unit.

Reference numeral 16 is a reproducing section, which is a C as a recording medium.
It has a function of performing a reproducing operation of the D-ROM 12. The reproducing unit 16 includes a motor (not shown) that rotates the CD-ROM 12, an optical pickup (not shown) that reads information from the CD-ROM 12, and a servo control unit (not shown) that controls rotation and movement of the motor and the optical pickup. ), It is composed of a known electronic circuit such as a signal processing unit (not shown) which demodulates and reproduces information recorded from a high frequency signal read from the optical pickup as a digital signal. When the sector position information is input to the servo control unit, the servo control unit reads information from the sector position information of the CD-ROM 12.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an input unit, which can input a search direction of the search table 14 and an instruction to read the introduction section in order to read the introduction section of the voice file of the target search unit from the CD-ROM 12. As an example, the input unit 18 includes an operation key (not shown) for instructing normal basic operations (reproduction, stop, fast forward, rewind, stop) of the CD-ROM 12, a direction instruction key for instructing a search direction, and an introduction. At least an introduction section reading key for issuing a section reading instruction is provided. Further, a mark setting instruction key for setting a read mark (also simply referred to as a mark setting key) and each key for instructing a reading operation and a reading direction based on the set reading mark are provided. A hierarchy designation key is provided for designating the hierarchy that constitutes the table of contents information using as a search unit. In this example, the table of contents information is "chapter" as shown in Fig. 3.
It consists of three layers, "section" and "term", and one of these layers can be specified. The specified hierarchy refers to the search unit and becomes the basis for searching. As an example, the keys for specifying the hierarchy are the "↑" key and the "↓" key, and when the "↑" key is pressed, the specified hierarchy is one level higher (the "chapter" level). Direction), then "↓"
By pressing the key, you move to the next lower layer (in the direction of the “item” layer). Further, in this example, instead of separately providing the above-mentioned direction instruction key and the introduction section read key,
A forward read key (forward read key “←”) and a backward read key (rear read key “→”) are provided to instruct the introduction section reading direction and the introduction section reading operation. Similarly, instead of separately providing a browsing operation instruction key and a browsing direction instruction key, a forward browsing key (forward browsing key) and a backward browsing key (backward browsing key) are provided to set the browsing direction. It is configured to instruct browsing operation.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a storage unit, which is constituted by using a semiconductor storage element such as a ROM or a RAM as an example, and stores a search table, an operation program of a CPU described later, and the like. Reference numeral 22 denotes an audio reproduction unit, and when an audio file read from the CD-ROM 12 is input, an audio processing unit 24 that performs D / A conversion to convert into an audio signal that is an analog signal and amplifies it. A speaker 26 that reproduces and outputs the amplified audio signal output from the audio processing unit 24 as audio.
It is composed of If the read audio file is data-compressed, it is expanded to the original PCM data and then D / A converted to an analog audio signal. 28 is a control unit, which is configured by using a CPU or the like. The control unit 28 controls the reproduction unit 16 according to the operation instruction input from the input unit 18, and the CD-R
Basic operation of OM (play, stop, fast forward, rewind,
Stop), read-in operation, mark setting operation, browsing operation based on the set read mark,
-When the audio file is read from the ROM 12, the audio reproducing unit 22 is controlled to reproduce the audio file by audio.

Next, the detailed structure of the search table 14 will be described. In the search table 14, as shown in FIG. 3, the audio file of each book corresponds to the heading of the table of contents of each book, and the start sector position of each “item” which is the smallest search unit of the heading and each The length of the introductory part for each “item” (announce message length) and table-of-contents information indicating the hierarchical structure of headings are divided into “chapter”, “section”, and “item” and stored.
The length of the introduction part is the number of bytes in this example, but may be time. The reason why the message length can be set for each item is that when a voice is played as a message, it is better to play a sentence with good breaks than to end the message in the middle of a sentence or word. It is easy for a person to determine the contents of the search unit, but the length of the audio data that is well separated from the start sector position varies for each search unit. Therefore, the search table 14 stores the message length matched with the voice data length with a good delimiter of the introduction unit for each search unit. In order to simplify the search table 14 and reduce the storage capacity of the storage unit 20, a common message length may be set in advance for each search unit, and the message length of this fixed length may be read and reproduced. good.

Next, the operation of the audio file reproducing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, CD-RO
When M12 is attached to the reproducing unit 16 and the power of the reproducing apparatus 10 is turned on, the control unit 28 operates the reproducing unit 16 according to the operation program stored in the storage unit 20 to perform the CD-operation.
Read the search table 14 recorded in the ROM 12,
The data is stored in the storage unit 20 (step 100), and then a state of waiting for a key input from the input unit 18 is entered (step 10).
2). In the state of step 102, the control unit 28 controls the playback device 10 according to the type of key operated by the input unit 18.
Determine the behavior of.

When the operated key is the operation key for instructing the basic operation, the control section 28 reproduces, fast forwards, rewinds the CD-ROM 12 according to the contents of the operation key.
A basic operation such as stopping is performed by operating the reproducing unit 16 (step 104). After that, the control unit 28 returns to step 102 and waits for the next key input.

When the hierarchy instruction key ("↑" key or "↓" key) and the forward or backward read key ("→" key or "←" key) are operated, the control unit 28 is operated. Refers to the hierarchy of the table-of-contents information designated by the hierarchy instruction key in the search table 14 according to the direction (forward or backward) indicated by the read key, and reads the start sector position and the message length of the search unit searched first. The reference position for starting the search may be the current reproduction sector position in the audio file read from the CD-ROM 12 or the first position of the audio file in the CD-ROM 12. Then, the reproducing unit 16 is controlled to reproduce the voice file starting from the start sector position read from the CD-ROM 12 by the voice reproducing unit 22 as voice while reading the same read message length. As a result, the playback operation by the voice of the introduction unit of the searched search unit can be performed.

When the reproduction of the audio file for the message length of one search unit is completed, the next search unit in the search direction,
Furthermore, the search unit 14 sequentially searches the search unit such as the next search unit, reads the start sector position and the message length from the search table 14, and continuously reproduces the audio file for the message length. This allows CD-ROM1
Since the reproduction of the audio file recorded in No. 2 by the voice of only the introduction portion of the plurality of search units is sequentially performed, the user can surely find the target search unit (step 106). When this operation is completed, the control unit 28
Returning to step 102, the next key input is awaited. In the above-described example, once the read key is operated, the control unit 28 operates so as to continuously search for the search unit and reproduce by the voice of the introduction unit of the search unit according to the direction indicated by the read key. However, each time the read key is operated once, the search unit is searched once to reproduce by the voice of the introductory part, and when it is necessary to search the search unit and reproduce the voice of the introductory part, A method of operating the read key again may be used.

The read operation of the above-mentioned introduction section will be described using a specific example. Note that, as an example, a case will be described in which the hierarchy instruction key indicates “section” and the front read key is operated. The reference position for starting the search is CD-
It is the first position of the audio file in the ROM 12. The control unit 28 receives the instruction of the hierarchy instruction key and sets the hierarchy of the table-of-contents information used for the search to "section". Then, the search unit is sequentially searched from the first position of the audio file according to the instruction of the front read key. First, in the "section" hierarchy, the first search unit is the first search item in Chapter 1, Section 1, and the start sector position and the message length are read. The start sector position and message length are "2:00:00" (indicating the 2nd 00th 00th sector) and "665", respectively. The control unit 28 is a CD-R
From the start sector position (2:00:00) of the OM12, the audio file of "665" bytes is read and reproduced. next,
In the "section" hierarchy, the first search unit is the second sector, and the first sector position and the message length are read in the same way as the second search unit. The starting sector position and the message length are "22:15:45" (indicating the 45th sector of 22 minutes 15 seconds),
"939". Similarly, the control unit 28 reads and reproduces the audio file by "939" bytes from the start sector position (22:15:45) of the CD-ROM 12. The above operation is sequentially repeated in Chapter 2, Section 1, Item 1, Chapter 2, Section 2, Item 1, ....

The same applies when a "chapter" or "section" is hierarchically designated. Further, when the reference position for starting the search is the current reproduction sector position, the search is performed in search units in the designated direction from the reproduction sector position. In this way, by specifying the hierarchy and performing the read operation of the introductory part for each search unit in this hierarchy, for example, when reproducing the first introductory part of Chapter 2, a search based on the hierarchy of "term" is performed. This makes it possible to perform the read operation of the target search unit more quickly than performing the unit search one by one.

Next, a description will be given of a mark operation in which a read mark is set in a necessary search unit during the above-described read operation of the introduction unit and only the introduction unit of the search unit in which the mark is set can be browsed later. First, when the mark setting key is operated during the above-described read operation of the introduction unit, the control unit 28 reads the start sector position of the search unit currently read by the introduction unit from the search table 14 and stores it. Browsing table 3 preset in the section 20
The read start sector position and message length are stored in 0 (step 108). After that, the control unit 28 returns to step 102 and waits for the next key input. Instead of the start sector position, table of contents information that can specify the search unit may be stored. When the mark setting key is operated in a number of search units, steps 102 and 108 are repeated, and the mark setting key is operated in the order in which the search table 30 corresponds to the start sector position of the search unit. Remember the message length.
In this example, in order to perform the browsing operation quickly, for example, the start sector positions are stored in the browsing table 30 while rearranging so that the start sector positions are stored in the browsing table 30 in a fast order (or in a slow order). Memorize

After that, when the front browsing key or the backward browsing key is operated, the control unit 28 refers to the browsing table 30 in the storage unit 20 and the start sector position and the message stored in the browsing table 30. The length is sequentially read according to the direction (forward or backward) of the operated key, and the voice file of the search unit corresponding to the start sector position is read from the CD-ROM 12 via the playback unit 16 by the message length and the voice is played back. The audio is reproduced through the unit 22. Thereby, the browsing operation of the introduction unit of the search unit can be performed (step 110). After that, the control unit 28 returns to step 102 and waits for the next key input.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the table of contents information in the search table is a hierarchical structure instead of a minimum. The search unit may be configured only. In addition to being used by people who are blind and enjoy reading, it can also be used by ordinary reading enthusiasts as a means for effectively spending free time while traveling at mobile institutions. Of course, many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit.

[0024]

By using the audio sentence information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, along with the sentence information of the book, the relation between the table of contents information in which the heading of the contents of the book is a search unit and the reproduction start position for each search unit is shown. By using a random-accessible recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which the search table shown is recorded, it is possible to sequentially read the text information introduction portion of the search unit and reproduce it by voice, so that the target search unit Can be easily specified. Also, based on the table of contents information, you can select whether to search in the search unit of chapter, section, or section as needed, so the time required to read the target search unit can be shortened and the search is easy. Become.
In addition, if the target search unit is sequentially searched by referring to the search table, and the voice reproduction of the introduction portion of the sentence information of the search unit is continuously performed along the search direction, the target search unit Can be identified more quickly. Further, if the read mark can be set for the search unit that is desired to be read again during the read operation of the introduction unit, the search operation for the search unit with the read mark can be performed, and the sentence information can be efficiently reproduced by voice. It has a remarkable effect that it can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an audio sentence information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the search table of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Voice Text Information Reproducing Device 12 CD-ROM as Recording Medium 14 Search Table 16 Reproducing Section 18 Input Section 20 Storage Section 22 Audio Reproducing Section 28 Control Section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G11B 27/10 A 27/00 D

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A search table showing the relationship between the table-of-contents information with the heading of the contents of the book as the search unit and the reproduction start position for each of the search units indicates the reproduction operation of the recording medium recorded together with the text information of the book. A reproducing unit to perform, an input unit capable of inputting a read instruction for performing a target text information introduction unit reading of the search unit, a storage unit to store the search table, and input text information. A voice reproducing unit for reproducing by voice, and controlling the reproducing unit to store the search table recorded on the recording medium in the storage unit, and when the read instruction is input via the input unit, In order to read the introduction part of the sentence information, the search table in the storage unit is referred to search for the target search unit, the reproduction start position of the search unit is read, and the read unit is read. A control unit that controls the reproduction unit to read the text information recorded on the recording medium for the length of the introduction unit from the starting position, and reproduces the read text information by voice through the audio reproduction unit. An audio sentence information reproducing apparatus characterized by being provided. 2. The table-of-contents information is recorded in the search table by dividing the table-of-contents hierarchy of chapters, sections, terms, etc., and the input unit defines one of the hierarchies as a search hierarchy. A hierarchy instruction for designating can be input, and the control unit, when the read instruction and the hierarchy instruction are input via the input unit, the control unit in the search table stored in the storage unit. 2. The audio sentence information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target search unit is searched in the hierarchy designated by the hierarchy instruction, and the reproduction start position of the search unit is read. . 3. The length of the introduction unit is recorded in the search table for each search unit, and when the control unit refers to the search table to search for the target search unit. Reads the reproduction start position of the search unit and the length of the introduction section, and reads the sentence information recorded on the recording medium for the length of the introduction section read from the read reproduction start position in the reproduction section. 3. The audio sentence information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sentence information reproducing apparatus controls and reads. 4. The input unit can input a search direction of the search unit, and the control unit, when the read instruction is input through the input unit, the search unit in the storage unit. The target search unit is searched by referring to a table, and the search start units of the searched search units are read while searching the search units sequentially from the search unit along the search direction, and the read reproduction is performed. The text information recorded on the recording medium for the length of the introduction section from the start position is read by controlling the reproduction section, and the read text information is reproduced by voice through the audio reproduction section. The audio sentence information reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3. 5. The input unit is capable of inputting a mark setting instruction for setting a read mark, a read operation instruction based on the read mark, and a read direction, and the control unit is operable via the reproducing unit. When the mark setting instruction is input during reading of the introductory part of the text information of the search unit, the reproduction start position of the search unit currently being read is set as the read mark. Stored in the browsing table in the memory,
5. When a browsing operation instruction and a browsing direction are input, the reproduction table is referred to, and the reproduction start position as a read mark is sequentially read along the browsing direction. A device for reproducing sentence information by the described voice.